Nothing beats bringing friends and family together for the ultimate Summer celebration, from fabulous finger food to colorful party punches. One of the best parts of Summer is all the wonderful opportunities for entertaining. Whether it’s a relaxed backyard barbecue with relatives or the ultimate alfresco dinner party with friends, there’s no denying the warmer months are the perfect time to party.
While party planning and entertaining may come naturally to some, to others, just the thought can create a frenzied sense of panic. Thankfully, entertaining doesn’t have to be overly complicated. In fact, it can be really easy. Not entirely sure where to start? We’ve got you covered. Here are six expert tips for hosting the perfect outdoor soirée in today’s ultimate Summer entertaining guide for food and wine lovers.
Keep The Drinks Flowing
I’m sure that we can all agree that drinks are the most important part of any Summer get-together, especially so when you’re a food and wine lover. Summer is truly the perfect time to indulge in all your favorite icy beverages – from sparkling wines and frozen margaritas to boozy party punches and refreshing alcoholic slushies. There’s truly nothing worse than a party that runs out of drinks, so whether it’s ice, mixers, or your favorite alcohol, be sure to stock the bar! The best idea is to get an assortment of liquors (vodka, rum, tequila), a few different varieties of wine, and your favorite dessert liquor. For mixers, you’ll want an assortment of soft drinks, soda water, tonic water, and fruit juices to keep everyone happy.
Don’t Forget About The Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Since Summer can be incredibly dehydrating, it is always a good idea to ensure that you have plenty of water and other non-alcoholic beverages to keep everyone comfortable throughout the day. This is also great if you have guests who may be driving and aren’t looking to indulge in the odd tipple. So, before you head out to buy a bottle of Prosecco, be sure to spare a thought for your alcohol-free guests – they deserve to have fun too!
Curate The Perfect Summer Cheese Board
When temperatures are soaring, and the urge to turn on your stove or oven is at an all-time low, nothing beats a Summer cheese board to keep the crowd happy. Contrary to popular belief, cheese boards aren’t just a cosy wintertime indulgence. In fact, with the bounty of fresh fruit and veggies available in the summertime, a warm-weather cheese board paired with a selection of your favorite wines is truly the ultimate treat.
Summer is the perfect time to take advantage of local seasonal goodies, and fresh produce always pairs well with cheese. Some of our favorite summer combinations include:
- Camembert & Homemade Tomato Jam
- Gouda and Fresh Peaches
- Ricotta and Strawberries
- Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella and Tomatoes
- Emmentaler and Rockmelon
Whether you’re building the cheese board of dreams or preparing an Instagram-worthy spread, Summer is the ideal excuse to spice up your plate with some soft cheeses, juicy fruit, and colorful produce!
Provide Shade For Your Guests (and Food)
Whenever you’re hosting an outdoor gathering or party, it is always wise to prepare for bad weather (yes, even in the summertime). To ensure that your guests are kept comfortable, it is vital that you take some time to consider how you will provide shade to your guests. This is especially important if you’re hosting in your backyard or any outdoor space that doesn’t offer immediate covering. Some of our favorite ways of providing respite from the elements include a marquee, a cantilever umbrella, or even curtains hung from wires/ropes stretched between posts on a patio or deck. You might also want to consider bringing out a couple of fans to ensure that your guests are treated to a cool breeze.
Aside from keeping your guests cool and comfy, shade can help to protect your food from melting or, even worse, spoiling. If you plan on serving perishables such as cheese, dairy, or meats, we highly recommend using insulated food containers or putting dishes on ice to keep everything super cold. Find out more about how you can keep cold food fresh all day long here.
Use Non-Breakables
Even if your guests aren’t going to be running around barefoot in your backyard, it is always a good idea to use non-breakable dinnerware and glassware to ensure that you won’t have to clean up a pile of broken glass at the end of the day. The more glass there is, the more likely it is that something will break, so opt for plastic or acrylic cups, melamine plates, and serving dishes. Thankfully, non-breakables don’t have to look tacky or cheap, and dozens of gorgeous, upscale options are available online.
Top Tip: If you’re not the biggest fan of single-use plastics, many retailers also offer eco-friendly options (bamboo, sugar cane, palm leaf) or premium, reusable plastic tableware that will last you for years.
Meal Prep Before The Guests Arrive
The last thing you want is to stress yourself out with last-minute preparations, so meal prep is always a fantastic idea before your guests arrive. Generally, we recommend planning a menu that you can make ahead and then simply assemble just before serving. For example, many desserts such as mousses, ice creams or cheesecakes can be made up to 2 weeks in advance and popped into the freezer until needed. Similarly, pre-chopping your vegetables for a crudités platter or preparing mixed salads the night before are all great ways of saving yourself lots of time on the day of your event.
By preparing as much as possible before guests arrive and choosing fresh, seasonal, and easy recipes, you’ll have more time to mingle with guests and enjoy yourself.
Head to this page for easy make-ahead finger food ideas.
Provide A Summer Essentials Goodie Bag
Summer entertaining can often mean contending with the elements and unwanted guests (flies, mosquitoes, etc.). To combat this, providing your guests with a Summer essentials goodie bag is always a great idea. Your goodie bag should contain some basics, including insect spray, hand wipes, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, and more. If you’re hanging poolside, you may also want to consider providing guests with spare towels, thongs, or pool floats if you have children attending your gathering. Essentially, the items provided in your goodie bag should aim to elevate the experience for your guests and provide them with options to keep themselves comfortable in the sweltering heat.
Top Tip: If you really want to go all out, you could even throw in some foodie-inspired gifts such as decorated cookies, retro candy, or gourmet condiments that are sure to blow your guests away.
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Planning the ultimate food and wine gathering this upcoming Summer doesn’t have to be a stressful affair. We hope that the tips in today’s article have inspired you and equipped you with all the tools you need to make entertaining this summer a total breeze!